Safety snap-hook



(No Model.)

A. .J. SLOAN. SAFETY SNAP HOOK.

No. 499,942. Patented June 20, 1893.

WITNESSES lNVENTO/Y a1 ATTORNEYS.

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To all whom it may concern:

NITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

- ALFRED J. SLOAN, OF CLYDE, .NE\V YORK.

SAF ETY SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,942, dated June 20,1893. Application filed April 7, 1393. Serial No. 469,440. (No m d l- Beit known that I, ALFRED J. SLoAN, of Clyde, in the county of Wayne andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in SafetySnapHooks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to improvements in snap hooks for harness, andother purposes, and consists in thepeculiar construction and combinationof parts, as is hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device shown in open adjustment.Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a partly sectional side view,

with the hook opened. Fig. 4 is a side view.

with parts in closed adjustment. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modifiedform of theimprovementin alocked condition; and Fig. 6 is a plan View ofa further modified form of the device.

The device in brief, comprises an adjustable spring jawed frame, and ahook bar pivoted between the jaws of said frame, the body of the hookand free ends of the frame limbs, having a peculiar conformation, thatadapts them for efficient service. as a safety snap hook, provisionbeing made to lock the hook bar in closed adjustment when this isdesired, as will be more fully explained.

The frame A, is formed from metal that is slightly elastic, and may becast, forged, or cut by dies and subsequently bent into shape, as may bepreferred. The frame piece A,'may be bent to afiord a straighttransverse rear bar a, and two parallel portions a, that are bent towardeach other at b, and then in parallel at 0, thus providing two springlimbs d, that are sufficiently separated to receive the parallel sidedbody of the hook bar B, between them. A cross bar a is attached by itsends to the inner sides of the parts a of the frame,-

and is parallel with the rear bar a, being properly spaced therefrom.Said bar a may be riveted to the parallel frame piece a, or be castintegral therewith, and from its connection with the latter stifiens theframe structure and aids the Spring action of its limbs d.

The hook bar B, before mentioned, is furnished with an edge-curved book6, that has its point e, rearwardly extended so as to properly approachthe protuberate edge portion 6 of the hook bar, which swell is locatedat the heel of the hook, and affords a suitable enlargement of the barB, for the formation of a pivot perforation therein at a correctdistance from the ends of said bar. The end portions d of the framelimbs d, are widened a proper degree, and are preferably edge curved attheir juncture with the portions of these limbs that are near the bendsc. The widened ends d of the frame B, are notched as at 1 so as toafford flared edges for said notches, and behind the notches at a properpoint the limbs (Z, are oppositely perforated for the reception of arivet h that is inserted through the perforation of the hook bar, andthus adapts the latter for vibration between the limbs d that have anadjustable spring pressure thereon effected by tightening or looseningthe rivet h. The curvature given to the edges of the limb end portionsd, and opposite edges of the hook e, adapts these edges of parts tocorrespond with each other,

and permits the hook to lie partly embraced and its point concealedbetween the limb ends as indicated in Fig. 4, and it will be seen, thatwhen the hook bar is thus adjusted an aperture is produced as at g,which will receive a bridle bit ring,or like device on a hitching postif the snap hook is placed on the end of -a halter for it's detachableconnection with a stable object.

On the rear end of the hook bar B,a thumb piece 0' is formed whichoccupies part ofthe space in the wider part of the frame forwardly ofthe cross bar a and is thus conveniently located for vibration by thumbor finger pressure when the closed hook e is to be rocked to carry itaway from the frame limbs d, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

A transverse perforation 2' is formed in the hook bar B, near the thumbpiece h, and aligning perforations i, are produced in the frame limbsof, at a point which will permit the holes in the frame and, hook bar toregister with each other when the latter named piece is in closedadjustment, and when it is desired to doubly secure the hook in a closedcondition for any desired length of time, a small piece of flexible wirei", may be inserted, and its ends bent over so as to retain it, as shownin Fig. 5, the removalof this locking piece being readily effected bystraightening or cutting off one end of the same with cutting pliers orany other available tool.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the edges of the frame A, are shown rounded, this formbeing preferred when the frame is cast into form, as it is then requiredto be somewhat thicker than if out and bent from sheet metal, and inFig. 6, the

frame is given a circular formation atits rear end to permit theconnection therewith of a rope halter or other-strand that is not fiat,the other shape shown being best adapted for the attachment of a strapend, which is inserted between the cross-bara and rear bar a, then lapfolded and secured by sewing or.

other means, so as to neatly afiix the snap hook on the end of thestrap.

It will be seen that from the shape of the hook e, and the manner ofnotching the limb ends (1-, that when the hook is in a foldedcon dition,the furcated end portions of the limbs which embrace the hook body inpart and its point completely, will form guards, that will prevent thehook from lateral displacement when a ring or rounded strap is locked inthe space 9, the curvature of the inner edge on the hook, causingapplied draft strain to lie about in the same plane with the transversecenter of the limbs d, and pivot center of the hook and frame,a sidestrain being resisted by the guards on the limbs, in an obvious manner.7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a frame widened at the rear, a cross bar in saidwidened part,

and notched parallel adjacent limbs at the front of the frame, widenedat a right angle to the widened rear part of said frame, of a hook barpivoted between said limbs and ad- .j ustably spring-pressed thereby,and guarded by the forked members of the limbs, substantially asdescribed. v

2. The combination with a framewidened at the rear, a crossbar near therear bar of the frame, and parallel limbs at the front of the frame,transversely perforated to receive a locking bar, and forked at theirends, of a hook bar pivoted between the limbs and adj ustablyspring-pressed thereby, said bar having a transverse perforationtherein, a thumb piece on the rear end of the hook bar, 'anda lockin gbar adaptedto enter the perforations in the limbs and hook barwhen thehookbar is in closed adjustment within the frame, substantiallyas-described.

ALFRED J. SLOAN. Witnesses.

JACOB STACK, WILLIAM.E.,MEADE.

